President Reauthorizes Perkins Career and Technical Education Act

SkillsUSA celebrates President Trump’s signing of H.R. 2353, the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act,” which officially reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, more commonly called Perkins funding. Perkins CTE provides more than $1 billion each year to states for vocational and career-focused education programs.

“This legislation marks an important bipartisan federal investment in career and technical education,” said SkillsUSA’s executive director, Tim Lawrence. “SkillsUSA and other student organizations rely on Perkins funding to help our state associations and local chapters deliver top-quality programs in high schools and colleges nationwide. Our goal in SkillsUSA is to graduate students who are ready to be part of the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.”

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and Advance CTE released another joint statement in response to President Trump signing H.R. 2353, saying the resources provided through the law will assist states and local public education providers in their efforts to ensure learners have the skills and experiences that will provide a pathway to the middle class, while meeting the needs of employers.

The statement reads in part, “As we turn our attention from policymaking to implementation, there is much work to be done to ensure the intent and aspirations of this law are fully realized. Given the swiftness of the final stages of this law’s development, we look forward to continuing to work with congressional leaders and administration officials and their staff to clarify key aspects of the new policy.”